Protective packaging for an article

ABSTRACT

A protective packaging for an article, which protective packaging is formed from a flat limp material which is folded over its length so that two walls ( 4,5 ) which have parallel side edges ( 3 ) that rest against one another are formed, which walls form an open slot ( 7 ) with the free edges ( 6 ) of the material and are connected to one another at their front ends ( 8 ) in order to close the packaging, permits simple production and improved handling in that the open slot ( 7 ) is formed within a wall ( 5 ) and at a distance from the side edges ( 3 ), and in that the two sides edges ( 3 ) are formed by folding

The invention relates to a packaging material for an article, formed from a flexurally slack flat material which is folded lengthwise, with the result that two walls are formed which have parallel side edges lying against one another, form an open slot with free edges of the material and are connected to one another at their front-side ends in order to close the packaging.

Protective packagings, in particular for bulky articles, for example fenders of an automobile, have also been produced for a relatively long time from kraft paper, that is to say using a technology which is known for the production of paper sacks. In a simple manner, a multiple-layer kraft paper is folded lengthwise once, with the result that two identical walls which lie on one another are formed. This arrangement is closed at the front-side ends of the walls which are formed, for example by stitching the walls together at the front-side ends. A protective packaging is therefore produced which is very simple to manufacture and, at one side edge, has a slot which extends over the length of the packaging and can be pulled open in order to insert the fender into the pocket-like protective packaging which is formed. The slot is closed for subsequent transport, for example by adhesive strips which are applied to the outer side of the walls and reach over the slot.

The known protective packaging can be produced very simply and inexpensively, but exhibits certain handling disadvantages. Pulling the slot open and keeping it open and inserting the very long article which frequently has a length of >1.5 m requires a high level of attention and care in order to hold the article reliably in the packaging before the slot is closed by the adhesive strips and the article is secured against falling out. Until then, the arrangement is extremely unstable. Since the packaging stands upright on the side edge which is formed by the folding line for filling with the article, it is susceptible to falling over, perhaps together with the article, as a result of which the latter can slide out of the packaging and can be damaged, for example scratched.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a protective packaging of the abovementioned type, which protective packaging makes improved handling possible without more complicated and more expensive production being necessary.

According to the invention, in order to achieve this object, a protective packaging of the type which is mentioned in the introduction is characterized in that the open slot is formed within a wall and at a spacing from the side edges, and in that both side edges are formed by folding lines.

In the protective packaging according to the invention, the material is therefore folded twice in the longitudinal direction, with the result that both side edges are formed by folding lines.

The folding can also take place with the formation of side folds, with the result that the finished packaging is then configured as a cassette.

The two free edges of the material then meet one another within one wall and form the open slot there between the front-side ends which are connected to one another at the front-side ends in order to close the packaging. For this purpose, known connecting techniques can be used, such as stitching, adhesive bonding, welding, multiple folding, knurling (embossing), punched connections, lock-stitching etc.

Since the open slot is formed within one wall, this wall is used as the upper wall of the packaging. The slot can also be pulled open on the upper side which is formed by the upper wall of the packaging, with the result that the lower wall is available as base of the packaging and can also rest flatly on a support. This results in stable positioning of the protective packaging during loading with the article, for example a fender of a motor vehicle. After the article has been introduced into the packaging, the open slot which is pulled open contracts largely as a result of the weight or the shape of the article, with the result that it (is practically precluded that the article slides unintentionally out of the protective packaging. Optionally, the slot of the protective packaging can be closed subsequently in a known manner. This will frequently not be required at all for transport within a company, on account of the construction of the protective packaging.

In one particularly expedient embodiment of the invention, the open slot is arranged centrally within the wall.

However, it is also possible to arrange the slot off-center, that is to say, for example, in the right-hand or left-hand third of the packaging.

Furthermore, the open slot preferably extends between the closed front-side ends over the entire length of the packaging, with the result that no partial closure measures are required for the slot which is formed before the protective packaging is filled with the article.

The stability of the slot which is formed according to the invention and its tendency to close after filling of the protective packaging is assisted by the fact that, at the free edges which form the slot, an outer layer of the kraft paper is folded around at least one inner layer and is adhesively bonded on the inner side of the packaging. As a result, the free edges of the kraft paper which delimit the slot are given a strip-shaped reinforcement by the outer layer which is folded over, which strip-shaped reinforcement increase the dimensional stability of the free edges and, moreover, protects the free edges against “fraying” of the material layers.

In an alternative embodiment, at the free edges which form the slot, an inner layer of the material is folded around an outer layer and is adhesively bonded on the outer side of the packaging.

Furthermore, it is possible to configure the slot in such a way that the free edges overlap one another. As a result, additional securing of the packed article in the protective packaging is brought about.

Two chambers which can optionally be filled in each case separately are produced by folding over in longitudinal directions.

In one particular embodiment, divisions can be formed between the end-side connections by further, optionally interrupted transverse or longitudinal connections. The packaging can then be rolled or folded up. Divisions of this type are expedient, for example, for the packaging of fluorescent tubes and the like.

The packaging is preferably of at least three-layer, in particular four-layer, construction, the outer layer having a printable outer side and it being possible for the inner layer which forms the inner side of the packaging to be of smooth configuration on one side.

Suitable materials are, for example, multiple-layer kraft paper, plastic films, polyethylene or polypropylene films, coextruded PE/PP films, air cushion film, nonwovens, for example made from polyethylene or polypropylene or their copolymers or mixtures, synthetic or nonsynthetic woven fabrics, foams, metal foils, composite materials which can have, for example, an insulating layer, or felts.

The handling of the packaging according to the invention can be improved further by the free edges which form the slot being arranged so as to overlap one another, with the result that there is additional material for automatic closure of the slot after filling with the article.

The invention is to be explained in greater detail in the following text using an exemplary embodiment which is shown in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an upper wall of a protective packaging, which upper wall is configured with a slot, and

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the protective packaging along the line II-II in FIG. 1.

The protective packaging according to the invention is produced from multiple-layer kraft paper, of which only an outer layer 1 and an inner layer 2 are shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity. The layers 1, 2 are folded twice in such a way that the folding lines form side edges 3 of a (lower) wall 4 and an upper wall 5. The upper wall 5 therefore comprises two part walls 5 a and 5 b. Free edges 6 of the two part walls 5 a and 5 b abut one another centrally in the upper wall 5 and therefore form an open slot 7 which extends over the length of the protective packaging.

At front-side ends 8, the walls 5, 6 are connected to one another by a seam 9 which is produced in a manner known per se by stitching with a twine thread (not shown).

As FIG. 2 shows, the free edges 6 are of protected configuration, in that the outer layer 1 is folded around the inner layer 2 in the region of the free edge 6 and is adhesively bonded to the inner side of the inner layer 2 on the inner side of the packaging by means of a strip-shaped adhesive bond 10, with the result that the free edge 6 is covered by a folding line of the outer layer 1 and a strip-shaped reinforcement of the free edges 6 is brought about as delimitation of the open slot 7 by way of the strip-shaped adhesive bond 10 and the strip-shaped additional layer of the outer layer 1 which has been folded over inward.

FIG. 2 shows only one inner layer 2 for the sake of simplicity. A configuration having a plurality of inner layers, in particular three inner layers, is preferred, in order to ensure sufficient stability of the packaging.

The open slot 7 which is delimited by the seams 9 extends between the seams 9 over the entire length of the packaging.

Although the slot 7 is shown centrally in the upper wall 5 in the drawing, it is of course possible as one variant also to position the slot off-center in the wall 5 if there is still a sufficient spacing from the side edges 3. The minimum spacing from the side edges is approximately ¼ of the width of the wall 5.

Furthermore, it is possible to configure the part walls 5 a and 5 b of the wall 5 so as to overlap one another, with the result that the slot 7 forms a labyrinth closure in the closed state. Overlapping of up to 20 cm is possible, that is to say approximately ⅓ of the width of the wall 5. As a result of the overlapping, additional wall material is available for the packaging which is filled with an article in order to close the slot 7 and to prevent the introduced article from sliding out unintentionally.

The packaging is also suitable for a configuration, in which it has a substantially greater length than width and depth. It can have, for example, a length of more than 2 m, preferably of more than 2.5 m, and a width of between 0.5 m and 0.75 m, preferably of from 0.6 m to 0.65 m. 

1. Protective packaging for an article, formed from a flexurally slack flat material which is folded lengthwise, with the result that two walls (4,5) are formed which have parallel side edges (3) lying against one another, form an open slot (7) with free edges (6) of the material and are connected to one another at their front-side ends (8) in order to close the packaging, wherein the open slot (7) is formed within a wall (5) and at a spacing from the side edges (3), and in that both side edges (3) are formed by folding lines.
 2. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parallel side edges (3) are folded in the form of side folds.
 3. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open slot (7) is arranged centrally or off-center within the wall (5).
 4. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot (7) is formed by overlapping free edges (6) of the wall (5).
 5. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free edges (6) overlap one another.
 6. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open slot (7) extends between the closed front-side ends (8) over the entire length of the packaging.
 7. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection at the front-side ends takes place by adhesive bonding, stitching or knurling.
 8. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein chambers are formed by further transverse or longitudinal connections between the front-side ends.
 9. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the free edges (6) which form the slot (7), an outer layer (1) of the material is folded around at least one inner layer (2) and is adhesively bonded on the inner side of the packaging.
 10. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the free edges (6) which form the slot (7), an inner layer (2) of the material is folded around an outer layer (1) and is adhesively bonded on the outer side of the packaging.
 11. The protective packaging as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that wherein the material comprises multiple-layer kraft paper, a plastic film, an air cushion plastic film, a nonwoven, a woven fabric, a felt, a composite film, a metal foil or a plastic foam. 